The 20+ Moments You Missed From the Olympic Opening Ceremony
The United States has already broken a record.
The Opening Ceremony at the 2018 Winter Olympics in PyeongChang delighted the (cold) spectators with lots of K-Pop, dancing, and fireworks.
The tiger in the beginning had special symbolism.
The official mascot of the games is Soohorong, a white tiger. In Korean folk tales, these animals embody trust, strength, and protection. According to the show program, the white tiger is also one of four guardian gods and protectors of peace.
The five children represented peace-seekers.
The cute kids that drove the show's storyline went on a time-traveling quest of peace, with segments of the show playing out throughout the ceremony. The crossing of the buckwheat field on a raft symbolized the turmoil of Korean history, but they ultimately saw a future with digitally enhanced medical care and flying cars.
Jamaica's flag bearer made history.
Since the Parade of Nations is organized by the alphabet of the host country, the delegations marched out in an unusual order for Western audiences. The Jamaican team stood out with its expert dance moves, and Audra Segree led the way as a member of the country's first female bobsled team.
The Tongan flag bearer returned.
Pita Taufatofua reprised his viral moment in Rio by going shirtless in PyeongChang despite initial interviews saying he would "be keeping nice and warm." The judo athlete qualified in cross country skiing this year.
Athletes were taking photos with their new phones.
Samsung distributed limited edition Galaxy phones worth $1,100 to all of the athletes, just in time for plenty of selfie-taking. While sanctions against Iran and North Korea for their nuclear programs almost prevented those competitors from receiving gifts, the IOC clarified that both delegations would get phones — but North Korea wouldn't be able to take theirs home.
Bermuda wore shorts.
While the island nation often dons its trademark summer wear for the Olympics, the outfit seemed especially bold in light of temperatures in the low 30s plus winds.
The U.S. sent the largest delegation ever.
At a whopping 242 athletes, the United States broke the record for most competitors from any nation in the history of the Olympic Winter Games. The team also includes three five-time Olympians.
The Americans walked out to "Gangnam Style."
There's a reason Team USA looked so hyped. While the stadium piped in a mix of old and new K-pop during the Parade of Nations, the United States' entrance coincided with the record-breaking viral anthem by South Korean artist Psy.
Their fringed gloves stole the show.
The outfits by Ralph Lauren included a set of statement-making suede mittens that the athletes clearly got a kick out of. Their big parkas also featured built-in warmers to keep the marchers toasty.
Finland had the craziest coats.
With the severe cold somewhat restricting what athletes could wear, most countries opted for plain parkas and snow pants. Finland's multi-patterned jackets — with different colors for men and women — stood out as one of the most unique outfits.
Lindsey Vonn left early.
While cameras caught the gold medalist walking in PyeongChang Olympic Stadium, she apparently didn't stay long. According to a post on the skier's Instagram story, she left before the festivities ended. "Back on the bus ... knee doesn't like standing like that," she captioned the pic.
Russia had a neutral flag bearer.
As part of sanctions against Russia for systematic doping in previous Olympics, the IOC had athletes march in generic outfits: gray coats, jeans, and white scarves embroidered with a simple logo. A volunteer from the PyeongChang organizing committee carried the Olympic flag while leading the delegation around the arena.
Ukraine included a sweet symbol on their mittens.
The Americans weren't the only ones sporting unusual gloves. The Ukrainians wore blue from head to toe, with the exception of the embroidered sunflowers — the national flower — on their mittens.
The Koreas used two flag bearers.
As part of the "Peace Olympics," North and South Korea marched under one flag during the Parade of Nations. South Korean bobsledder Won Yun-jong and North Korean ice hockey player Hwang Chung-gum shared the role of holding the Korean unification flag.
North and South Korean officials shook hands.
In a huge symbolic moment, South Korean President Moon Jae-in (bottom left) welcomed Kim Jong Un's sister Kim Yo Jong (top left) as the Korean athletes entered the stadium. Japanese President Shinzo Abe is seen looking on (bottom right).
The IOC President shaded Russia in his speech.
Thomas Bach, a former fencing Olympic champion, told athletes they would only cherish memories of a "truth and worthy Olympian" if they "respect the rules and stay clean."
"Donald Trump" attended.
Impersonators of the American president and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un were escorted out of the ceremony. Of course, the actual Mike Pence and his wife Karen Pence attended the event on behalf of the president as previously announced.
Four famous Koreans performed "Imagine."
If you're not into K-pop, you might not realize the quarter performing John Lennon's famous peace anthem consisted of four superstar singers: Ha Hyun-woo, Jeon In-kwon, Lee Eun-mi, and Ahn Ji Young. Ha Hyun-woo, 36, is the lead singer of rock band Guckkasten. Jeon In-Kwon, 63, sings for Korean band Deulgookhwa. Lee Eun-mi is a 51-year-old solo artist and Ahn Ji Young, 22, is part of the K-pop duo Bolbbalgan4.
They didn't release live doves for a reason.
The crew of kids released a dove-shaped balloon following the ballad. The traditional peace symbol is a longtime part of the games, but the Olympics hasn't used live birds since the 1988 Seoul Summer Olympics, when a group of birds met an unfortunate fate in the Olympic cauldron.
The two torch carriers had a special meaning.
The athletes came from the women's ice hockey team, the only joint team North and South Korea are fielding. South Korean Park Jong-ah and North Korean player Jong Su-hyon climbed a massive set of stairs as part of the relay — earning praise from across the internet for the impressive feat.
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